Wednesday, May 25, 2016

25 May 1901 - Take Me To The River

On 25 May 1901, Club Atlético River Plate was founded in Buenos Aires. With a record 36 titles, they are the most successful team in Primera División history.

Named after the nearby Río de la Plata which separates Argentina from Brazil, River Plate won their first Primera División title in 1932 and added eleven more before the 1950s ended. Along the way, the club produced legendary players such as Omar Sivori and Alfredo di Stéfano, both of whom went on to star in Europe for Juventus and Real Madrid, respectively.

After a fallow period of almost twenty years, River Plate returned to their winning ways in 1975. But their greatest year was 1986, when they took an historic treble consisting of the league title, the Copa Liberatadores, and the Intercontinental Cup.

They maintain a fierce competition with fellow Buenos Aires club Boca Juniors. The derby, known as the Superclásico, is one of the most heated rivalries in sport. At present, Boca have a slight edge, with 132 wins to 114 for River Plate and 113 draws.